San Mateo Consolidated Fire Partners with City of Foster City and Gilead to Open a New Training Facility

Foster City, CA – Thanks to a generous grant from Gilead Sciences, Inc., the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department (SMCFD) has opened a new training center building. The building dedication held on June 9th was attended by members of the Foster City City Council, SMC Fire Personnel, as well as representatives from Gilead Sciences.

The facility, located on East 3rd Avenue in Foster City, is located at the City’s Corporation Yard and has been long used by the Fire Department for training. The site has never had a classroom, until now. According to Robert Cook, Training Chief of the SMCFD, the training capabilities for the Department will be greatly enhanced. The building features state-of-the-art technology that enhances training by allowing discussions with experts, video, and other resources to be used followed immediately by field application of the concepts on the training ground utilizing fire engines, and props designed for training purposes in a controlled environment.

City Councilmembers from Foster City as well as SMC Fire Board members were present for the dedication. “The City Council is deeply proud of the collaboration that took place in making this state-ofthe-art facility a reality,” said Foster City Mayor and SMCFD Board Member Richa Awasthi. “This is a testament to the power of public-private partnership, and it will make Foster City a safer, more secure community now and for generations to come.”

Fire Chief Kent Thrasher added “We are so pleased to be able to partner with a company such as Gilead as well as with the City of Foster City to enhance our level of training for the firefighters responding to the cities we serve. Anyone living, working, or passing through the jurisdiction will be safer because of Gilead’s generosity.”

“Gilead’s support of SMCFD is reflective of our ongoing commitment to our local community and highlights our deep appreciation for your continuous work to protect our neighborhood,” said Joydeep Ganguly, Senior Vice President, Corporate Operations. “The thousands strong at our Foster City campus are immensely grateful to you all and we are honored to partner with you.”